nounany Asian or North American plant of the genus Dicentra, such as bleeding heart and Dutchman's-breeches, having finely divided leaves and ornamental clusters of drooping flowers: family Fumariaceae
 Word origin
C19: New Latin, from Greek 
dikentros having two sharp points, from 
di-1 + 
kentron sharp point, from 
kentein to prick; see 
centre